A couple favorite moments in B's String Qrtts

[Michael]

I have about 20 complete string quartet cycles and my favorite set which I come back to again and again is the Takacs Quartet. Incredible dynamics, impeccably recorded, fiery tempos, nary a misstep. Kind of like the Emerson set but with soul....

Guarneri takes a close second, just because on a few movements their voicings seem a tad better articulated...(GF 133 is probably the most coherent IMHO..)

Twenty cycles! I thought I was doing well with five. (Although I have a lot of incomplete cycles).
I would put the Guarneris high on my list also. The Italianos would be my number one choice for many of the quartets, especially Raz 1-3, Opus 127 and 135. Their Grosse Fuge would be my favourite version.
Interestingly, on the Desert Island thread, James Ellroy picked two Italiano versions of the late quartets.

[Ed C]

Have you heard the Endellion Quartet cycle? I'm actually working my way thru that set now. It has all the official quartets, as well as the alternate Op.18.1, and a bonus disc of quintets and fugue fragments...so far it's very good, tho not in my top 5 I don't think.

I have the Italiano, perhaps I'll dig that out and give it another whirl...

Does anybody know if there is a complete string quartet cycle on period instruments? The Schuppanzigh Qrtt and Quatour Turner both I know have individual discs of HIP string quartets but has anybody completed a full cycle?

OK I've got my Ipod here handy so I'm going to copy-paste my fav non-Takacs quartets:

String Qrtt 12 in E-flat major, Op. 127 (Lasalle Qrtt)
string quartet op. 18 no 2 in G major (Tokyo, 2007)
String Quartet in C, op.59 no.3(Razumovsky) (Melos Qrtt)
String Qrtt 3: op. 18 no. 3 (Tokyo, 2007)
String Qrtt 11 Op. 95 in F minor (Emerson)
String Quartet Op.132 a-moll - (Alban Berg Qrtt)
String Qrtt 4 Op. 18 No.4 in C minor (Emerson)
String Qrtt Op. 18 No.1 in F (Emerson)
String Quartet Op. 131 in C sharp minor (Emerson)
String Quartet in E flat major ('Harp') op. 74 (Emerson)
String Qrtt 5 Op. 18 No.5 in A (Emerson)
String Qrtt 8 Op.59 No.2 in E minor Rasumovsky (Smetana Qrtt)
String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 130 (Yale Qrtt)
String Quartet No.7, Op.59 No.1 (Emerson):
String Qrtt 6 op.18 no.6 in Bb major (Tokyo, 2007)
Grosse Fugue Op.133 (Hagen Qrtt)
String Quartet Op. 135 in C sharp minor (Emerson)
STRING QRTT OP 133 (Guarneri)

I'm surprised there's so much Emerson....oh also this list completely excludes the Budapest 50's set - that's the other complete cycle I like besides the Takacs.

4/7 The 5th Symphony (Color Analysis)

[Michael]

That's some collection, Ed. I have a lot of oddments as well but I haven't the stamina to list them at the moment.
Talking of quartets,this HAS to be the weirdest venue yet for a Beethoven quartet performance:

http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2011...ogle_news_blog

Schubert's famous quintet would have been more appropriate.
This performance took place only yesterday.
Salmon should complain. Although, I eventually got hooked. Talk about major and minor scales.
The Hammerheadklavier might have been more appropriate.

.

[Ed C]

That's some collection, Ed. I have a lot of oddments as well but I haven't the stamina to list them at the moment.
Talking of quartets,this HAS to be the weirdest venue yet for a Beethoven quartet performance:

http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2011...ogle_news_blog

Schubert's famous quintet would have been more appropriate.
This performance took place only yesterday.
Salmon should complain. Although, I eventually got hooked. Talk about major and minor scales.
The Hammerheadklavier might have been more appropriate.

.

Haahaa! That video really made my day. Hats off.

Oh wait - I just read your puns...(hat carefully being replaced on head)
Just kidding - brilliant.

[Quijote]

That's some collection, Ed. I have a lot of oddments as well but I haven't the stamina to list them at the moment.
Talking of quartets,this HAS to be the weirdest venue yet for a Beethoven quartet performance:

http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2011...ogle_news_blog

Schubert's famous quintet would have been more appropriate.
This performance took place only yesterday.
Salmon should complain. Although, I eventually got hooked. Talk about major and minor scales.
The Hammerheadklavier might have been more appropriate.

.

True, Schubert liked a good Tuna for his piano.